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Decongestants are the drugs or medicines used to relieve nasal congestion, which in common terms, refer to stuffy nose.
There are various causes of nasal congestion or a runny nose like as follows:
As already mentioned, decongestants are used to relieve nasal blocks. They are available in the form of capsules, gel caps, nasal sprays, and nose drops. Some decongestant products require a physician's prescription but there are also many non-prescription (over-the-counter) products. These medicines work by narrowing blood vessels in the nose lining. As a result, blood flowing through the area reduces and the swollen tissue inside the nose shrinks. This helps in passing of the air easily through the nose passage.
It is to be noted that decongestants do not cure colds or reverse the effects of histamines. They are not for relieving all of the symptoms associated with colds and allergies. They help in relieving only the stuffiness.
Though there is no such serious side effects of decongestants, some may face the problem of nervousness, dizziness and sleeping problems. In extreme cases, it causes high blood pressure.
Some Effective Natural Decongestants
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